Touch up/moustache hair fluid applicator

ABSTRACT

A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a fluid includes a body having a proximate end and a distal end and a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal end. The dispensing member also includes a plurality of bristles extending from the distal end. One or more orifices can be provided in the distal end that are fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. In other embodiments, the distal end includes a plurality of bristles with at least one of the bristles including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. The fluid can include at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and hair straightener.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/US03/40299, which designated the United States, was filed on Dec.17, 2003, and was published in English, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/434,192, filed Dec. 17, 2002. The entireteachings of International Application and the U.S. ProvisionalApplication are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional hair dye applicator devices that utilize a compressiblebottle containing liquid, such as a dye, are well known in the art.However, such devices typically do not provide means for controllingapplication of the fluid to the user's hair in an acceptable manner.Furthermore, these prior art devices do not provide means forcontrolling application of the liquid in a desired pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a fluid isprovided that includes a body having a proximate end and a distal endand a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distalend. The dispensing member also includes a plurality of bristlesextending from the distal end. One or more orifices can be provided inthe distal end that are fluidly connectable to the fluid duringdispensing of the fluid. In other embodiments, the distal end includes aplurality of bristles with at least one of the bristles including anorifice that is fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing ofthe fluid. The fluid can include at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo,conditioner, and hair straightener.

A hair fluid applicator is also provided that includes a collapsiblefluid container for containing a fluid, the fluid container having anopen end for allowing egress of the fluid. The applicator also includesa compressible air container encasing a majority of the fluid container,a one-way air valve configured to allow air into the air container andto prevent air from exiting therefrom, and a dispensing member having aproximate end, which is attachable to the air container, and a distalend. The distal end can include at least one orifice in fluidcommunication with the open end of the fluid container. The dispensingmember can also include a bendable neck disposed between the proximateend and the distal end. The applicator also includes a one-way fluidvalve disposed between the open end of the fluid container and thedispensing member. The one-way fluid valve allows egress of the fluidwhile preventing fluid from entering the fluid container.

A method of applying a fluid to hair to be treated is also provided thatincludes providing a hair fluid applicator including a dispensing memberthat includes body having a proximate end and a distal end and abendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal end. Thedispensing member also includes a plurality of bristles extending fromthe distal end. The method further includes adjusting the neck to adesired angle for applying fluid to the hair and applying fluid to thehair to be treated through the dispensing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of various embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a touch up/moustache hair fluid applicatorin accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing member illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tip of the dispensing memberprovided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tip of the dispensing memberprovided in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the one-way air valve in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way air valveillustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a one-way fluid valve in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way fluid valveillustrated in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of various embodiments of the invention follows.

A touch up/moustache hair fluid applicator 10, which can be disposableor reusable, is illustrated in FIG. 1. Generally, the applicator 10includes an air container 12 that encases at least a majority of acollapsible fluid container 14 that can contain a fluid, such as acolorant, dye, shampoo, conditioner, hair straightener, etc. The aircontainer 12 is resiliently compressible, i.e., deformable whensqueezed, but returns to its original shape, and can include a one-wayair valve 16 for allowing air into the air container while preventingair from exiting therefrom. The air container 12 includes an open end 18couplable to a dispensing head, head part, brush head, or dispensingmember 20 through which the fluid is delivered to hair to be treated. Ina particular embodiment, the dispensing member 20 can be screwed ontothe air container 12 or otherwise affixed thereto. A one-way fluid valve22 is disposed between the open end 18 of the air container 12 and thedispensing member 20 for allowing egress of the fluid from the fluidcontainer 14 while preventing fluid from entering the fluid container(see, for example, FIG. 47 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,449, the entireteachings of which are incorporated herein by reference).

FIG. 2 illustrates the dispensing member 20 that includes a body 26 thatcan include a bendable neck 19 disposed between a proximate end 21,which is attachable to the air container 12, and a tip or distal end 23.A plurality of fine bristles/teeth 24 are provided at the distal end 23,which is designed to allow the user to selectively apply fluid to hairto be treated, such as sideburns and moustaches. The neck 19 can bedesigned to be bendable similar to the accordion-type configuration of abendable straw. In other embodiments, the neck 19 can include a pivotingmechanism, such as a ball bearing, to effect the bending of the neck 19.Other mechanisms can be used to allow the neck 19 to articulate. In aparticular embodiment, the bristles 24 are soft and bendable.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the distal end 23 can include a plurality oforifices 28 that fluidly connect to the fluid container 14 fordelivering fluid to the hair to be treated. In other embodiments,orifices can be provided at the base and/or along the shaft of some orall of the bristles 24. FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment whereinbristles 30 can be provided that include orifices that are fluidlyconnectable to the fluid container 14. In further embodiments, acombination of the bristles 24, 30 can be implemented.

An embodiment of the one-way air valve 16 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6 and includes a duckbill-type valve 32 having a slit 34 through whichair is allowed to flow into the air container 12, although other typesof one-way valves can be implemented. The valve 16 can include raisedmembers or bumpers 36 that support the fluid container 14 above the slit34 so that air can flow into the air container 12. The valve 16 can alsoinclude a flange 38 that snap-fits into the air container 12 andprovides a seal.

An embodiment of a one-way fluid valve 22 (FIGS. 7 and 8) can include aflange 40 that forms a seal between the fluid container 14 and thedispensing member 20. The one-way valve 22 can also include aduckbill-type valve 42 that includes a slit 44 such that the fluidpasses in a one-way direction through the valve 22. In otherembodiments, other types of one-way fluid valves can be implemented.

In operation, when the air container 12 is compressed, the air pressurebetween the air container and the fluid container 14 increases since theair cannot escape. This increased pressure collapses the fluid container14 that pumps fluid up through the one-way fluid valve 22 into thedispensing member 20 and out through the orifices 28 and/or bristles 30.When the compression on the air container 12 is relieved, the one-wayfluid valve 22 does not allow the back flow of fluid to the fluidcontainer 14. Due to the higher outside pressure, air outside rushes inthrough the one-way air valve 16 and enters the space between the twocontainers 12, 14 to equalize the pressure.

With no backflow, the fluid container 14 collapses and by repeating thesteps, fluid continuously flows out of the dispensing member 20 withevery compression until the desired amount of fluid is evacuated fromthe fluid container, regardless of the orientation of the applicator 10.The neck 19 can be bent to allow the user flexibility in applying thefluid to the hair to be treated.

In particular embodiments, the valves 16, 22 can be formed from aflexible material, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, such assilicone. The one-way fluid valve 22 can be formed from achemically-resistant material. In specific embodiments, the aircontainer 12 can be formed from a low density polyethylene and thedispensing member 20 can be formed from polypropylene. In oneembodiment, the fluid container 14 is formed from a low densitypolyethylene/PPO blend.

Any of the hair fluid applicators disclosed herein can be used on humansas well as animals, such as a dog.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

1. A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a fluid,comprising: a body having a proximate end and a distal end and abendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal end; anda plurality of bristles extending from the distal end.
 2. The dispensingmember of claim 1, further comprising one or more orifices in the distalend fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. 3.The dispensing member of claim 1, wherein the distal end includes aplurality of bristles, at least one of the bristles including an orificethat is fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the fluid.4. The dispensing member of claim 1, further comprising one or moreorifices in the distal end fluidly connectable to the fluid duringdispensing of the fluid, the distal end also including a plurality ofbristles, at least one of the bristles including an orifice that isfluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the fluid.
 5. Thehair fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the fluid includes at leastone of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and hair straightener.
 6. Ahair fluid applicator, comprising: a collapsible fluid container forcontaining a fluid, the fluid container having an open end for allowingegress of the fluid; a compressible air container encasing a majority ofthe fluid container; a one-way air valve configured to allow air intothe air container and to prevent air from exiting therefrom; adispensing member having a proximate end attachable to the air containerand a distal end having at least one orifice in fluid communication withthe open end of the fluid container, there being a bendable neckdisposed between the proximate end and the distal end; and a one-wayfluid valve disposed between the open end of the fluid container and thedispensing member, the one-way fluid valve allowing egress of the fluidwhile preventing fluid from entering the fluid container.
 7. The hairfluid applicator of claim 6, wherein the distal end includes a pluralityof bendable bristles.
 8. The hair fluid applicator of claim 6, furthercomprising one or more orifices in the distal end fluidly connectable tothe open end of the fluid container.
 9. The hair fluid applicator ofclaim 6, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of bristles, atleast one of the bristles including an orifice that is fluidlyconnectable to the open end of the fluid container.
 10. The hair fluidapplicator of claim 6, further comprising one or more orifices in thedistal end fluidly connectable to the open end of the fluid container,the distal end also including a plurality of bristles, at least one ofthe bristles including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to theopen end of the fluid container.
 11. The hair fluid applicator of claim6, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of bristles, at least oneof the bristles including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to theopen end of the fluid container.
 12. The hair fluid applicator of claim6, wherein the fluid includes at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo,conditioner, and hair straightener.
 13. A hair fluid applicator,comprising: a collapsible fluid container for containing a liquid, thefluid container having an open end for allowing egress of the liquid; aone-way fluid valve in communication with the open end of the fluidcontainer for allowing egress of the liquid; a compressible aircontainer encasing at least part of the fluid container, the aircontainer having an open end for receiving the fluid container, the aircontainer also including a one-way air valve for allowing air into theair container while preventing air from exiting therefrom; and adispensing member connectable to the air container for delivering fluidto hair to be treated, the dispensing member including one or moreorifices fluidly connected to the fluid container, the dispensing memberalso including a proximate end and a distal end and a bendable neckdisposed therebetween; wherein as the air container is compressed by auser, the fluid container collapses to force the liquid out of the fluidcontainer.
 14. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein the distalend includes a plurality of bendable bristles.
 15. The hair fluidapplicator of claim 13, wherein the distal end includes a plurality ofbristles, at least one of the bristles including an orifice that isfluidly connectable to the fluid container.
 16. The hair fluidapplicator of claim 13, wherein the orifices are provided in one or moreof the bristles.
 17. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein thefluid includes at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, andhair straightener.
 18. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, whereinthe one-way air valve includes one or more raised members that cansupport the fluid container above a slit in a duckbill valve of theone-way air valve.
 19. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, whereinthe one-way air valve includes a flange that forms a seal between thefluid container and the dispensing member.
 20. A method of applying afluid to hair to be treated, comprising: providing a hair fluidapplicator including a dispensing member that includes a body having aproximate end and a distal end and a bendable neck disposed between theproximate end and the distal end, the dispensing member also including aplurality of bristles extending from the distal end; adjusting the neckto a desired angle for applying fluid to the hair; and applying fluid tothe hair to be treated through the dispensing member.